Highland League Cove Rangers have struck a deal with Aberdeen Football Club to sell Allan Park and build a new 1,000-seat stadium next to the Dons’ proposed new ground.
The two teams will join forces to create a huge football and sports centre at Calder Park – with Pittodrie chairman Stewart Milne willing to put up his own money to make Cove’s dream of joining the Scottish Football League (SFL) come true.
In return, the multimillionaire’s construction firm will redevelop Cove’s existing ground, and the Dons will finally get the purpose-built training ground they have wanted for decades.
The deal clears the way for Calder Park – which lies behind the city’s Makro superstore at Wellington Circle – to become one of the best sport complexes in Europe.
Cove’s new stadium will be the centrepiece of the site, beside Aberdeen’s new training facilities. There will also be room for a community sports centre and gymnasium.
The site is about half a mile from where Aberdeen FC wants to build a 21,000-capacity stadium, at Loirston Loch.
The club is eager to leave Pittodrie, which will be transformed into homes to fund the ambitious move.
Cove already had a long-term lease deal and planning permission for Calder Park – conditional on the club delivering a viable business plan to Aberdeen City Council.
Most of the money will come from selling Allan Park – but Mr Milne and fellow businessman Bert McIntosh, owner of McIntosh Plant Hire, will give Cove an undisclosed interest-free loan to make the move happen.
Mr Milne said: “These proposals solve three different issues – Cove gets a new stadium, the community gets a brand new sports facility and AFC gets its long-awaited training facilities.
“The deal for Allan Park is an arm’s length commercial deal on which appropriate advice was taken by all parties. Bert and I were pleased to be able to make a financial contribution to allow AFC to have access to permanent, first-class training facilities.”
Cove bought Allan Park in 1948 from a local farmer. However, the size of the ground cost the club a place in the Scottish Football League.
Cove chairman, Keith Moorhouse, said: “The constraints at Allan Park mean that if we are to play a role in any future reorganisation of the game, we have no alternative but to relocate.
“This was recognised when we applied for, and only missed out by one vote on, joining the Scottish Football League.
“We have had an agreement in place with Aberdeen City Council for some time, but have been unable to come up with the funding.
“But thanks to Stewart Milne, Bert McIntosh and our close co-operation with AFC, we now have a way forward for the club.”
Aberdeen FC managing director, Duncan Fraser, added: “This innovative solution, made possible by Stuart and Bert’s generosity, will enable Aberdeen to develop the long-established aim of delivering first-class training facilities.
“The bonus is that they can be integrated with the proposed stadium at Loirston.”
The council’s planning and infrastructure convener, Kate Dean, said the deal would bring “much-needed” sports facilities to the area.
She added: “I am delighted that at long last the finances are in place to allow this development to go ahead.”